Buddy can you spare a dime?

good job on the compilation. I think many renditions are pretty bad. My favorites are Odetta and Abbey Lincoln's.

I don't like the Bing & Al Jolson as they seem forced & far removed from the reality (oddly they were the versions popular during the time of the Great Depression). And that Yip Harburg, man he was quite a lyricist!

Awesomely predictive. If I had seen this last year would have said "Furt"...seeing this today I say "Dead on the Mark!"

I love the montage and I love almost all the versions. I have never been able to find Vallee's cover. Thanks again for the post.

bravos!

And, thanks to the subprime loan Enronisation of the whole Western World Economy, we'll be back to this, shortly. Ahhh, deregulation! What FUN.

Is Karen Gorney any relation to the composer? This is a great song. I like the Rudy Vallee version best. I think his was the big hit during the Depression. There's no begging or self pity but lots of pride & defiance in his voice.

Wow, this is really well done.  Thanks!

It spans generations.
But for the sheer emotional impact, it's STILL gonna be Tom Waits.
The Alley God lives!

The original versions are far and away the best: Bing Crosby, Al Jolsen, and Rudy Vallee. Those men knew and felt what they were singing about. They lived it.